Casket



April M. s. HARRIS 2,317,605

' CASKET File ad Feb. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l H ll[lllIlllIllllllllllllllllllillll II' II I //W/Yr0/e LE1 MAHLY'S. HAR is April 2 7, 1943. M. s. HARRIS 2,317,605,

CASKET.

Filed Feb. 9,, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet MA/YLY & HA1? as. 7 $4? I m| Q hs' v Q A Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASKET Manly S. Harris, San Francisco, Calif.

Application February 9, 1942, Serial No. 429,995

6- Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of caskets of the collapsed or knockdown type wherein a base having substantially tubular portions formed along the side and end edges thereof operates in conjunction with side and end panels having similar tubular portions formed along the bottom edges thereof and rotatably mounted within the tubular portions of said base, said panels also having their top edges turned back to form shoulders engaged by interlocking means integrally formed upon a top frame, said panels being also provided with interlocking means at the junctions of their ends, all junctions of the several panels, base and top frame being further provided with sealing means to substantially seal said casket.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved and greatly simplified construction for a casket of the collapsed or knock-down type.

Another object is to provide a new and improved article of manufacture of the character set forth, which may be substantially sealed.

A further object is to provide a new and improved construction for a knock-down casket to permit the same to be collapsed and automatically locked into a reduced and compact form to save space during transportation and storage before use.

Another object is to provide a new and useful article of manufacture comprising an improved construction for a collapsed or knock-down casket and which will require a minimum of time and labor to set the same up for use, and provided with sealing means for substantially sealing the several connecting joints thereof against leakage.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved construction disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a casket set up for use, with one end shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a casket collapsed for transportation or storage, one end being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, also on an enlarged scale, taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, in the direction indicated;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, in the direction indicated;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one base plate; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a second base plate.

Referring to the drawings:

The numeral I is used to designate a base plate having substantially tubular portions 2 formed along the sides thereof and 3 is a second base plate superimposed upon the first plate I and having similar tubular portions 4 formed on the ends thereof, said portions 4 being set slightly below the tubular portions 2, for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth. Side and end panels 6 and I, respectively, having similar tubular portions 8 and 9 formed along their lower edges, which portions 8 and 9 are rot-atably mounted or nested within the tubular portions 2 and 4 of the base plates I and 3, respectively, so that said panels may lie flat, when the casket is collapsed, upon the base plates I and 3 with the shorter end panels I, by reason of being mounted within the lower tubular portions 4, resting below the panels 6.

The top edges of the panels 6 and 'I are turned back upon said panels to provide continuous shoulders 6' and the side panels 6 are further provided with indented pockets I0 within which are pivotally mounted handles II. The ends of the panels 6 are also provided with offset flanges IE to provide vertically disposed grooves to receive lateral flanges IT on the adjacent or side edges of the end panels I, by means of which the ends of said side and end panels may be tightly interlocked and held together at their junctions when the casket is set up for use.

A channel-shaped top frame I2 engages and encloses the top edges of the panels 6 and I, when the casket is set up, and is provided with integrally formed, turned back spring flanges I4 withinthe channel or frame I2 to engage the shoulders 6' on the top edges of the panels 6 and I, as fully disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The tubular ortions 2 and 4 of the base plates I and 3, respectively, are preferably open throughout their lower inner quarter sections to permit movement or partial rotation of the tubular portions 8 and 9 of the panels 6 and I, respectively, rotatably mounted therein and also to provide an edge 2| to be engaged by integrally formed spring latches I8 formed upon the outer portion of the top frame l2, when the casket is collapsed and said top frame I2 is nested within the confines of said tubular sections 2 and 4, as fully illustrated in the right hand end of Fig. 4 of the drawings.

A suitable lid 22 of sheet metal upwardly pressed into an elongated pyramid is hingedly mounted upon the top frame I2 and is provided with a suitable seal or gasket 23 for engaging the top of said frame l2.

Suitable looking or fastening means, not shown as they form no part of the present invention, may-be provided to secure the lid 22 to the top frame I2.

In operation:

For convenience in assembling, the base plates I and 3 are first provided with their respective tubular portions 2 and 4 and the panels 6 and I are connected to said base by longitudinally sliding the tubular portions 8 and 9 into their respective tubular portions 2 and 4 on said base. To provide greater rigidity and strength, the base plates I and 2 may be upwardly indented or recessed into a shallow, elongated pyramid, as shown and also to receive the pyramid top of the lid 22 to facilitate stacking. Base plate 3, with its end tubular portions 4, is superimposed upon base plate I with its side tubular portions 2 and said plates are then permanently connected by welding or other suit-able means, thus providing a double strength for the base or bottom which bears the greater portion of the contents of said casket, and also forming a rectangular base with longitudinally extending and reenforcing longitudinal tubular portions 2 which operate to further strengthen the structure longitudinally.

The panels 6 and I are laid flat upon the base with the end panels I lowermost. As these end panels I are shorter and are mounted slightly lower within the base than the panels they will lie lower down upon or more closely to the base of the narrower end of the elongated shallow pyramid of said base and thus provide more room for the nesting or folding of the longer side panels 6, as disclosed in the right hand end of Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The top frame I2 with its lid 22 is next placed upon the base and folded panels and pressed downward until the spring latches I3 catch or engage the shoulders or edges 2! of the tubular portions, thereby effectively locking the Whole in a readily releasable, compact form for storage or transportation.

To extend or set up the casket for use, the latches I8 are sprung or released by any suitable implement from the edges 2!. The top frame I2 and lid 22 are then removed and the side panels 6 are swung upon their tubular hinges until their offset flanges I5 are moved beyond the path of the end panels I. The end panels I are next unfolded and moved a sufficient distance upon their tubular hinges to permit the panels 6 to be returned to a position Where the lateral flanges l I may engage the grooves formed by the offset flanges I6 of the side panels 6. After the flanges I! and iii are interlocked, the top frame I2 is laid upon and engages the top edges of the panels and pressed downwardly until the spring latches I 4 snap under the shoulders 6 of said panels, thereby tightly and permanently locking said top frame and panels together. In addition to locking the top frame to the panels, the tension of the spring latches I4 will further tend to constantly press the tops of the panels laterally and tightly against the side surface of the top frame and thereby further assist in sealing the junctions of the said panels with said top frame.

To further seal the several joints or junctions of the several parts, it is an important feature of the present invention to provide a fluid seal, preferably a viscid lubricant having a nonliability to dry and harden on exposure to air, such, for instance, as glycerine. In assembling the tubular portions 8 and 9 with their respective tubular portions or hinges 2 and 4, respectively, said tubular portions are first thoroughly lubricated with glycerine or the like which not only facilitates insertion of the tubular portions into each other but also provides an effective seal between the separate parts. Similarly, the flanges I6 and I1 and the interior of the channel of the top frame I2 are lubricated so that they will also facilitate engaging or interlocking relation with each other and the tightly fitting parts will also be effectively sealed with this fluid seal, until such time as the casket and contents are permanently interred, and thereby prevent the escape of the noxious odors or germs.

It may be here stated that the prime purpose of the present invention and improved construction is to provide a casket to meet such emergencies as may occur in the present national conflict, where the demise of large bodies of troops or civilians may urgently require large supplies of emergency caskets of simple construction yet sufficiently effective to prevent a plague. With its improved knock-down and sealing features, it is possible to store and transport larger quantities of collapsed caskets within a smaller space, and especially where space is at a premium, to be held in readiness for instant use.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A casket comprising a base plate having substantially tubular portions along the sides thereof; a second base plate superimposed upon said first plate and having substantially tubular portions along the ends thereof; side and end panels having substantially tubular portions on their lower edges rotatably nested within the tubular portions of said base plates; interlocking means on the ends of said panels for securing said panels together; a top frame for engaging the upper edges of said panels and having interlocking means formed integrally therewith for interlocking said frame with said panels; and a lid hingedly mounted upon said top frame.

2. A casket comprising a base plate having substantially tubular portions along the sides thereof; a second base plate superimposed upon said first plate and having substantially tubular portions along the ends thereof; side and end panels having substantially tubular portions on their lower edges rotatably nested within the tubular portions of said base plates; interlocking means on the ends of said panels for securing the same together; a top frame for engaging the upper edges of said panels and having interlocking means formed integrally therewith for interlocking said frame upon said panels; a lid hingedly mounted upon said top frame; and fluid sealing means within said tubular portions and interlocking means of said panels and interlocking means of said top frame with said panels.

3. A casket comprising a base plate having substantially tubular portions along the sides thereof; a second base plate superimposed upon said first plate and having substantially tubular portions along the ends'thereof; side and end panels having substantially tubular portions on their lower edges rotatably nested within the tubular portions of said base plates; interlocking means on the ends of said panels for, securing the same together; a top frame for engaging the upper edges of said panels and having interlocking means integrally formed therewith for interlocking said frame upon said panels; a lid hingedly mounted on said frame; and second locking means formed on said frame for engaging said base plates for locking said casket in collapsed position.

4. A casket comprising a base plate having substantially tubular portions along the side edges thereof; a second base plate superimposed upon the first base plate and having substantially tubular portions formed along the end edges thereof; side and end panels having substantially tubular portions formed along their lower edges and rotatably mounted Within the tubular portions of said base plates, said panels having their upper edges turned back to form shoulders; a channel-shaped top frame for engaging the upper edges of said panels and having integrally formed interlocking means for engaging the shoulders on said panels; and a lid hingedly mounted upon said top frame.

5. A casket comprising a base plate having substantially tubular portions along the sides thereof; a second base plate superimposed upon said first plate and having substantially tubular portions along the ends thereof; side and end panels having substantially tubular portions along their lower edges rotatably mounted within the tubular portions of said base plates, said panels having their upper edges turned back to form shoulders; a channel-shaped top-frame for engaging the upper edges of said panels and having interlocking means for engaging said shoulders; a lid hingedly mounted upon said top frame; and sealing means for sealing the junctions of the ends of said panels with each other and the tubular portions of said panels with the tubular portions of said base plates and the tops of said panels with said top frame.

6. A casket comprising a base plate having substantially tubular portions along the sides thereof; a second base plate superimposed upon said first plate and having substantially tubular portions along the ends thereof; side and end panels having substantially tubular portions along their lower edges ro-tatably mounted with the tubular portions of said base plates, said panels having their upper edges turned back to form shoulders; a channel-shaped top frame for engaging the upper edges of said panels and having interlocking means for engaging said shoulders; a lid hingedly mounted upon said top frame; and locking means formed integrally with said top frame for engaging said base plates to lock said casket in collapsed position.

MANLY S. HARRIS. 

